Section 2 Patent Eligibility 21
Who Is Eligible To Apply For A Patent 21
Why You Would Need a Patent 21
Protecting Yourself 22
Preventing Other People 22
What You Can Patent 22
What You Cannot Patent 23

Section 3 Patent Laws 24

Section 4 The USPTO 27
An Overview of Its History 27
The Hierarchy of the USPTO 27
The Role of The USPTO 28
Contacting the Patent and Trademark Office 28
Preparing Yourself to Navigate Through the Patent Maze 30

Section 6 When A Decision Has Been Made 40
When Your Application Is Approved 40
If Your Application Is Rejected 41
The Initial Rejection 41
The Final Rejection 42
The Appeals Process 43
Instead Of A Patent 43